Love the rain... hate the wet dog smell!

**So the first time I posted the link to Eclipse it was to the first/old trailer. I fixed it for all of you! ENJOY.**

I've been down in the dumps lately. 

You know sometimes life is just kinda hard. Well... today I decided that instead of getting up and turning on the TV I was gonna read. 

Here's what I read: 

Rev Run's Words of Wisdom.

Have you read it? I love it. 

(just occurred to me I should use it as a giveaway but I've marked it all up with pen... oops shoulda thought ahead)

Rev Run helped me start my day off in a positive way with a positive attitude and corny as it may be positivity came back to me!! Things have been coming to head in a lot of areas lately: job, unemployment benefits running out, money, weight loss... you name it the list goes on and on. So today I spent a few hours with my friend "LB", had a grilled cheese sandwhich  and tomato soup for lunch. Oh and I can't forget my quality time with precious baby Hannah!
Anywho, I come home and watch some Oprah. Which just made my friggin month with the new Twilight: Eclipse Trailer! Check it out here Twihards!
(yes I just said "Twihards". Move on.)
And it just got better from there!
I received a phone call about 15 minutes ago and I have an INTERVIEW on Monday!!
BOOP BOOP!

Start your day off right people; it sets the tone for what follows! 

Final Day to Enter Giveaway

Today is the final day to enter my giveaway for your very own Sony Touch Reader:

Find the Rules and enter here:

I know a couple of my favorite girlies haven't entered yet! I also know they'd love this. I will be picking a winner (well Random.org will actually be doing it) first thing tomorrow and I'll post ASAP who he/she is!

~~~

So I started reading The Shack (as previously reported) and I'm really questioning why....

This book is a Best Seller. I know. Everyone knows. But really I'm just thinking it's about all of the darkest and ugliest things a father/parent/person can possibly go through. Why do I want that when I read?

Do you know anyone who's started this book- and NOT finished it?

Would I be the first?

Should I just finish it and in the end it'd all come together for me???

.....Insert interesting title here

So maybe I'm not firing on all cylinders this AM. I mean, seriously, I couldn't even come up with a title for this post... hmmm. Bare with me, this could be interesting.

First.... welcome to all of my new followers! Second... you better not all be just using me for the free stuff (or else). hmm. That'd make me very sad. :(

Anyone else have any of The Biggest Loser Dvds? Well maybe you should get them. Tuesday Bob Harper (anyone else think he doesn't look like a "Bob"?) kicked my A.S.S.! He must be a "leg man" because it feels like all I did was lunges! All yesterday my thighs and bum were sore!

If you wanna work it out... give this dvd a try.

Just finished this book:

Sundays at Tiffany's

By, James Patterson & Gabrielle Charbonnet

I was adorable. This is the first book by James that I've dared to read. I thoroughly enjoyed it though.

I suppose I have to read The Shack next.

I've been avoiding it. It's supposed to be amazing but the whole idea of it sounds dark and damn depressing. I think I'll wait until I get my new Sony Touch Reader to purchase any other books!! Whooop Woop :)

What are you reading? Is it good?

We only want referrals to books that are great!

WOO HOO for 4-day weekends and MLK!

The hubs and I will have to plan something fantastic for our extended weekend.

hmmm....

The Travelers Gift (x2)

Ok, so I've read some more of this thought-provoking book. Imagine that? We left off after the first two decisions that determine personal success. David started his little journey through time and space with President Harry Truman learning "The Buck Stops Here." Then he ventured over to King Solomon being given the 2nd decision: "I Will Seek Wisdom." Okie dokie... After these encounters David is thrown into the civil war meeting with Colonel Chamberlain; a name which I honestly did not recognize. Before you go getting your panties all in a twist I know full-well what prompted the Civil War, and the outcome. I do not however remember all the military folk, where they fought, why, ect and so on. Back to the point: David is given the 3rd decision of personal success by Col. Chamberlain: "I Will Be A Person of Action". Col. Chamberlain taught him this by leading the Yanks in a full on Charge against the Rebels. They were greatly out-numbered by their opposition and in the face of all this, Col Chamberland refused to die retreating, instead he gave the order to charge, bayonets at the ready and the "Rebs" retreated.

David learned not to put off for tomorrow what can be done today. Yet another idea I love, and will work better at going forward. (:

Next David finds himself in a musty ol' room not nearly large enough for the 8 people it housed. The only person who saw him (oh- I forgot to mention that while Dave is being transported from place to place the only people who can see and talk with David are the ones he's there to see, King Solomon, Truman, ect) was a young girl. The young girl was none other than Ms. Anne Frank. This brave and amazing little girl teaches David the 4th decision: "I Will Choose To Be Happy."

Anne Frank shows David that your circumstances do not have to dictate your mood and that optimism is never lost unless you allow it to be. She tells David that he must decide to be happy at the start of everyday- and he will be; that he must smile in the face of fear and defeat.

Personally I have been working at being happier across the board for a while now. Honestly when something urks me or I'm just in a pissy mood I tell myself that it doesn't matter and screw it, and that I am happy. My theory is sort of "Fake it, till you make it." I keep telling myself that I'm happy and before I know I am. For years I laughed at people like (who I am now)... people running around telling themselves things don't matter. But I learned that I am responsible for my life, my choices and much like David learned with his first visit (and first decision) that if I am happy I'll make better choices for myself and my happiness will continue.

I am not saying that everything is ALWAYS ok or that I am always happy... hell no. That's just unrealistic. I am also not saying that we should just turn a blind eye to real and potentially stressful situations... but even these situations do not have to bring you down emotionally! (: So, far I'm loving this book. You should all go check it out.

~~~~~

A few days ago I started the backyard. Well, since then it's rained everyday so it was put on hold. Today no rain, back to some nice weather (probably just in time for JLC and her Hubs to head out of town, ha haha) so I ventured out this morning. That was short-lived. I give up! My back hurts! Yes, I'm whining- get over it! I've decided to just rent a Rotor-tiller the beginning of next week. My pops is going to help me pick it up and drop it off and I'll get it done all by my lonesome! (: I'm still proud of myself for getting it done on my own. Just because I'm not doing it by hand doesn't mean ANYTHING!! I am woman hear my roar... or something.

The Travelers Gift

Has anyone else read this? Basically the main character, David Ponder lost his job and is forced to reexamine what truly matters in his life. David comes to a cross roads while driving on an icy road, much like when George Bailey "wishes he were never born", in the classic "It's a Wonderful Life" and he is transported through time to visit some infamous characters that will provide him with the "7 decisions that determine personal success."

I'm just wondering if anyone else has read this and what your thoughts are on it...

So far I've only read about the first 2 decisions (to personal success):

1: "The Buck Stops Here" I personally love this one and completely agree. David is taught to take responsibility for his past and therefore his present (and future), by the one and only Mr. Harry Truman.

"I am where I am today- mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally, and financially- because of decisions I have mad. My decisions have always been governed by my thinking. Therefore, I am where I am today-mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally, and financially- because of how I think. Today I will begin the process of changing where I am- mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally, and financially- by changing the way I think."

I love it! One way or the other we chose to be where we are (in all of the ways listed above)... we created our path a long time ago with the choice to go left versus right, the choice of this school over that school, the choice to join the military, to marry a military man... we all have the option to make a different choice so we can't blame our circumstances, our parents, spouses or anything thing/one else for where we are in our lives!

2: "I Will Seek Wisdom": This decision rather confused me. David meets King Solomon while he is resolving the argument between two mothers who are fighting over a baby. They both claim the child is theirs and should be allowed to keep him. King Solomon offers to cut the baby in half so that they can each have a part of him. We all know how this story ends... he gives the baby to the woman who opted to give her son to the other woman over having him killed.

King Solomon and David have a discussion about many things. King Solomon tells David to seek the counsel of wise men; basically you are who you surround yourself with. Solomon tells David "Only a fool refuses the counsel of wise men..." "Fine a wise man, a person who has accomplished what you wish for in your own life, and listen closely to his words."

King Solomon also shows David (by holding a curtain open for him versus the other way around) that "When a king begins to act like a king, is not long before someone else is king! Serving is a way we can place value on one another. A wise man is a server." I get this concept, but I'm not sure what it has to do with seeking wisdom.

Both Harry Truman and King Solomon stress that they can't tell David what to do next and that they wouldn't even if they could... still waiting for that to come to some sort of point...? You are supposed to seek counsel of wise men but they can't give you advice on how to proceed? Egh, then again maybe I'm too logical for my own good.

I'll definitely be keeping this book. Since it is so short I expected to read it than return it. But I'm presently surprised by the depth of this book... lots to think about, obviously!

~~~~~

I gotta run, hittin the 30% off sale (for military) at Old Navy with my sis in a few!

Also, check out my new list (to the left) of things to accomplish before Kevin's homecoming! =) Gotta keep busy these last few weeks are DRAGGIN!!!